Now You See Me 2 Is Still Without A Script, Says Dave Franco

When Now You See Me released last year, it became a surprise hit, taking in over $350 million worldwide. Not bad for a film that cost just $75 million. Of course, a sequel was quickly given the green light and now, it gearing up to start filming at the end of the year. Or at least, that’s what we’re being told.

While doing press for his new film Neighbors (which is absolutely hilarious), Dave Franco was asked by Cinema Blend what the status of the Now You See Me 2 is. He said that filming is still supposed to get underway later this year, and that he’s already heard a pitch of the story.

Last I heard, we were still going at the end of this year. … I’ve heard a pitch of the story. It’s actually going to be really exciting. I was slightly weary, just because you never know when it comes to a sequel. But I think the first one opened up enough avenues. There are many directions left to explore. There are many places that it can go, and they really – they held true to the spirit of the first one, but it’s going to be enough of a departure that it doesn’t just feel like a complete copy of the first one.”

While that all sounds well and good, we also spoke to the actor at the Neighbors press junket and when we asked about where things were at with the film, he said that they still don’t have a script yet. Now, this shouldn’t necessarily be alarming, as it’s only May and filming isn’t set to get underway until the end of the year. There’s still plenty of time to get something together. That being said, with the increasingly busy slates of its lead actors, one has to wonder if Now You See Me 2 will be able to keep on schedule.

Jesse Eisenberg likely has several DC-related commitments now that he’s signed on for Batman vs. Superman, and Mark Ruffalo is in a similar position as well. Franco, meanwhile, is hotter than ever at the moment and is no doubt being flooded with scripts and job offers. Between those three alone I imagine it will be pretty hard to work out schedules for the sequel. Which is why I would think that the script would at least be completed by now.

The film is getting ready to head into production later this year and can’t really afford to suffer any delays. Would it not make sense to at least have the script in the actor’s hands by the spring/summer? I think it would. Not only is it not ready though, but the way Franco makes it sound, there’s not even a first draft or anything. Or at least, he hasn’t seen one if there is.

We might be reading too much into all this, and everything may be moving along smoothly. Who knows? Still, you have to wonder, is Now You See Me 2 going to remain on schedule? Check out Franco’s comments in the video below and let us know.